Spray cap



March 1954 J. E. BENOIT ETAL SPRAY CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1949 "IL/T,

FIG. 3

- INVENTORS. JOSEPH E. BENOIT By WILLIAM F. SANFORD ATTORNEY.

March 1954 J. E. BENOIT ET AL SPRAY CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1949 FIG. 6

INVENTORS. JOSEPH E. BENOIT WILLIAM F. SANFORD ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 ISPRAY CAP Joseph Benoit, Malverne, N. Y., and William F. Sanford, Riverside, Conn., assignors to At- .glantic Plastics, Inc., Flushing,

irationlof New Yor Application October 14, 1949,'Serial No.

.N. -Y., a corpo- .1 .Claim. (01:299-439.)

l "1 P This invention relates and more particularly to sive'ly bottles and other containers that are flexibleand-have-a certain amounto'f elasticity. For example, flexible and resilient bottles have been successfully made of polyethylene'andhave been used in conjunction with-anatomizing nozzle of some 'type to dispense the bottle "contents in the form of a fine mister-spray.

Considerable 'difiiculty has been experienced, however, in obtaining satisfactory atomizing nozzles for such-usethat meet allthe requirements. For example, a flexible bottle fitted with such a nozzle must be capable of being sealed tightly so that'the contents-of the bottle will not accidentally leak out crevaporate. Also, the nozzle must functionefiectivelytoproduce a satisfactory spray every time thebottle is' squeezed regardless of whether it is squeezed "lightly or heavily. In addition, the nozzle must be 'one which allows air to return freely "to the inside of the bottle when it is =released*so that the bottle a'fter being squeezed "will quickly regain its normal shapeand be ready to produce'another spray.

An object .of our invention is to provide an atomizing nozzlewhich maybe made inthe form of a removable cap, which satisfies all of the foregoing requirements and at thesame time is very economical to manufacture by mass production methods.

Another object 'of my invention is to provide such a capand nozzle that cambe'macle easily and in large. quantities outoflplastics'by a simple rapidmolding process.

"We have also found that nozzles constructed like .thepreferred embodiments 'of our invention can be used- .to advantage :forvdispensing powder-s as well as for dispensingJiqui'ds.

Two embodiments of our inventionare illustrated in the accompanying :drawings, in which :Fig. 1 isa sidelelevational view of a flexible bottle showing attached to the neck thereof a combinationcap and atomizingnozzle with an overcap in place over the end of -the nozzle.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view-of the bottle and cap one. larger scale, with the .overcap removedand the main cap partlybrokenaway.

'Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the nozzle, cap an'd'nek of theibottle, taken approximately onthe' line a -i of'Fig' z. 1

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the-combination nozzle and cap.

Fig. 5 is a bottom planviewof the nozzle and cap with some parts in section andtakenonthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 .isa perspective view one larger scale of the overcap illustrated in position on the nozzle in Fig. -1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative form of capand spraynozzle.

Fig.8 is a vertical sectional view through the center of this alternative form taken approximately on the line 8-8 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of'this modified capand nozzle.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view With parts in'section and taken approximately on the line l0-|0 of Fig. 8.

While certain features'of our invention are not limited to use with caps for flexible bottles, the

invention will be described by reference to such constructions-as showing the best ways of utilizing the invention.

This internal threads H *to engage threads 15 on thebottle neck I2 so that it can be threaded on poverthe neck 1 2 of -a flexible bottle l3. If desired, :the bottle neck may be formed Withaprojecting annular-ring 14 below the screw threads 15 of such dimensions that the skirt of the cap bears heavily againstgthis ring when in place. "The bottle itself may be made of any suitable flexible or resilient material, such as rubber or polyethylene, or, if desired, it maybe made of more rigid materials bellows, or-in some other form "that can be compressed.

"The upper side surface of the cap also maybe formed with one ,ormore circular grooves, was shown at It, 'hichjhave'beveled edges or side walls to provide a tight lfit with the upper edge of the bottle if itis not madetoclosetolera'nces or is. not exactly,round .in shape. shapes or constructions mayibe used for securing The nozzle portion of the cap is formed in the external upward projection H, which may "be of generally cylindrical shape and formed integral with the top or main portion of the cap itslf; l ro'iection 1:1 is .formed "with a I central passage l 8 opening zinto :the iinterior of the can and having a square or other suitable polygonal shape in cross section. This square opening terminates near the upper portion of the projection in a diagonal wall l9, which extends at an appropriate angle such as a 45 angle from one side of the square passage up to the opposite side thereof. Externally, the projection ll is cut away, as shown at 20, along a plane approximately at right angles to the plane of the wall is and located just below the intersection of wall is and the longest wall of passage Iii. This construction leaves an atomizing opening 2| for the nozzle which is preferably in the shape of a narrow slit.

A tube 22 is fitted into the nozzle passage it before the cap is placed on the bottle. Tube 22 may also be made of plastic or other suitable material and may be rigid or flexible, as desired. The tube illustrated is cylindrical in shape or circular in cross section and of such a diameter that it can be forced into the passageway it to provide a tight or press fit, as seen in Fig. 5. Tube 22 preferably is of sufficient length to extend to a point just above the base or bottom of the bottle [3.

It will be apparent that the cylindrical tube 22 in the square passageway It leaves spaces between the tube and passageway (Fig. 5) so that air can flow with a certain amount of freedom between these two elements.

- In the operation of this device, the cap is first fitted with the tube 22 which has its end pressed into place in the passageway it, The cap it is then screwed firmly onto the neck of the bottle l3, which has been filled to any desired level with the liquid or powder to be dispensed. When the walls of the bottle it are squeezed or compressed so that the air inside the bottle above the liquid is compressed, this produces a pressure inside the bottle which forces the liquid or powder to be dispensed up through the hole 23 in the tube 22 and at the same time this same pressure forces air to pass up the passageway is around the outside of the tube 22. The air and liquid or powder thus are mixed in the upper portion of the passageway iii, the mixture strikes the inclined wall is and is forced at considerable velocity out through the small opening 2i which, because of its shape and sharp edges, produces an atomizing action. A liquid thus dispensed can be easily formed into a fine mist or spray each time the bottle is squeezed. Finely divided powders, such as tooth powders, can also be dispensed either as a dusting operation or, if desired, with a slightly larger opening in the nozzle, to form a v layer of the powder. For example, with the nozzle embodying our invention, it is possible to dispense tooth powder in such a manner as to spread a layer of it directly onto a toothbrush. This combined cap and spray nozzle may be easily made of plastic materials as an injection molding since. there are no parts which have to be held to especially close tolerances.

The sealing of the device to prevent leakage or accidental escape of the bottle contents is made easy by the fact that the nozzle projects upward internally from the body of the cap. A simple overcap, as shown at 25 (Figs. 1 and 6), which fits tightly on over the projection 11 may be used for this purpose. Of course, the overcap and projection may be threaded if desired to hold the overcap in place although that is not necessary. I r

Figs; '1 toll), inclusive, illustrate a combination cap. and spray-nozzle according ,to ourinvention which has a slightly different construction from that illustrated in Figs. 2-5, inclusive. Where the parts are the same, the same reference numerals have been employed.

In this modified form, the cap proper, illustrated generally at 10, has internal threads H to engage the external threads IE on the neck l2 of the bottle Hi. If desired, the bottle may also be provided with a projecting ring H to spread and hold tightly in place the skirt of the cap It. In this instance, the inside top face of the cap is shown with a somewhat different form of ridges and grooves 26 having beveled sides to engage tightly the top of the neck of the bottle.

As in the other form of the invention, the nozzle or spray portion of the device is made in the form of an upward external projection 21 provided with an internal passage 28. The passage 28, as in the other form of the device, is preferably made square or of some other polygonal shape in cross section and its upper end is terminated by an inclined wall 29. In this instance, however, the inclined wall 29 preferably extends from one corner of the passage 28 diagonally upward at a suitable angle such as 45 toward the opposite corner of the passage 28. Externally the projection 21 is cut away along a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the wall 29, sufficient material being cut away from the outside of the projection 21 to leave the small opening 3 i. In this case it will be apparent that the opening 3| will be triangular in shape because of the relative disposition of the wall 29 and the cut away portion 30 with relation to the square passage 28. A tubular member 32 having a central opening 33 is fitted tightly or pressed into the passage 28 of the nozzle before the nozzle and cap are applied to the bottle. The length of the tube is adjusted so that it will extend almost but not quite to the bottom of the 7 bottle on which the cap is to be applied.

While the wall 19 in one case and the wall 29 in the other form of the device have been mentioned as inclined at an angle of 45 to the horizontal, or to the vertical as the case may be, it will be noted that this angle may be varied considerably and governs the direction in which a spray is projected from the nozzle when a bottle containing liquid and fitted with one of these nozzle caps is squeezed. Thus, the spray does not shoot straight up from the top of the bottle but is projected at a suitable angle which makes it particularly convenient for dispensing various liquids such as perfumes, deodorants and the like, or for dispensing various powders.

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and. expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the featuresshown and described or portions thereof, but recognize. that various modifications are possible wtihin the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

A spray cap having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a top wall integral therewith, screw threads formed on the inside of the cylindrical side wall, a vertical projection formed on top of the top wall, integrally therewith, a biased face on said vertical projection which is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees'with respect to the central axis of said vertical projection, a vertically extending passageway formed in saidvertical projection, a biased wall formed in said vertical projection at'the top oi sai d ver-;

tical passageway, said wall being inclined at an angle of approximately 45 de the central axis of said vertical passageway, said passageway being tangular in cross-section and said tube being said reel0 cir- Number PQ 1 157,508 ertical 421 363 said tube it- 7 5 self being in communication with the atmosphere :5 630 277 through the opening in the biased face, the biased 1 655678 wall at the top of the Vertical passageway being 1716525 inclined at an angle of approximately 45 with 1:742:605

the rectangular 2,014,149

r of said opp Number biased face being 572,640

e wall of the ver- 25 tical passageway, said opening being rectangular grees with respect to in shape, one of its side edges coinciding with projection, an 5 vertical passageway.

JOSEPH E. BEND-IT. WILLIAM F. SANFORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Montenier Feb. 28, 1950 Underwood Feb. 11, 1890 Ruppolt Jan. 28, 1896 Weitling Aug. 1, 1899 Dorment Jan. 10, 1928 Leong June 11, 1929 Lemoine Jan. '7, 1930 Stafford Sept. 10, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 25, 1924 

